RAPID CITY, SD – City Parks Division crews in Rapid City, South Dakota, are taking advantage of clear weather this week to begin the annual process of installing Christmas holiday lights across the city’s parks and downtown core. The early start aims to have key areas fully decorated ahead of major holiday events.
Crews were active in Halley Park on Monday, testing power and connections, and are continuing work today to decorate the park’s trees and gazebo. This week also includes decorating trees and stringing light decorations across downtown roadways. Much of the work on light poles downtown will commence after Veterans Day, following the transition of poles from veterans banners to holiday decorations.
Over the next two weeks, crews are also scheduled to decorate trees and gazebos in Wilson Park and Founders Park.
This holiday season, residents can anticipate festive decorations across key downtown streets. Christmas tree and Christmas present pole decorations, banners, and street lines will run along Main Street. Candy cane pole decorations, banners, and street lines will adorn St. Joseph Street from East Boulevard to West Boulevard. Poinsettia decorations will be placed on poles on Kansas City Street from Fifth Street to Mount Rushmore Road, with poinsettia banners extending to West Boulevard. Happy Holidays banners will be visible on Quincy Street from Fifth Street to West Boulevard. Additionally, the gazebo and west picnic shelter area at Canyon Lake Park will be decorated, and lights may be added to the trees at the Founder’s Park shelter area, supply permitting.
City Parks Division Manager Scott Anderson noted that capitalizing on mild weather allows staff to prepare areas for holiday events, including the annual Wilson Park Tree Lighting and the Festival of Lights Parade.
Anderson advises motorists to exercise caution when driving on downtown streets where crews are working to install the decorations.
“Our crews always look forward to this time of year and getting the major parks and downtown areas decorated prior to the holiday events that begin the week of Thanksgiving,” said Anderson. “Crews take a lot of pride getting the community ready for the holidays. We take advantage of the warm weather and try to decorate what we can prior to the Veterans Day holiday. It’s always nice when we can decorate without having to put up with bitterly cold temperatures or snow.”
The annual Wilson Park Tree-Lighting Ceremony is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, November 26. The annual Festival of Lights parade and related activities are set to take place downtown on Saturday, November 30.
Most holiday lights and decorations will remain on display past New Year’s Day, with the downtown tree decorations staying up through the Black Hills Stock Show.
